*I was actually saving my story about my shop, Circa, for my book but I decided, what the hell, I’ll share it now with all of you. So this is an actual excerpt from my book titled, And So It Is.
Circa
I used to have a shop. A chic little antique shop named Circa in Santa Barbara, California. My
father ponied up all the money for it as hush money. Apparently, unbeknownst to
our entire family, yet known to the rest of the world, my father was in the
midst of an eight year long affair with a woman named Laura. So gross. My
father thought it would be a good idea (a brilliant idea) if he handed over
copious amounts of cash so that my mother would go to France for weeks at a
time on buying trips and then dive wholeheartedly into opening a shop, thus
distracting her from her deteriorating marriage. It worked… For a while.
My mother and I had always wanted to open a shop. We had the
exact same taste, same style and same aesthetic. We were both great buyers and
she was great at merchandising that which we bought and then in turn, I was a great
salesperson. We decided, first things first, we needed to go on a buying trip in
France. Paris was the first stop. We decided that our modus operandi would be
to only buy that which we would have in our own homes and not just buy
something that we knew would sell. Not speaking a word of French yet years of
experience bargaining, off to the Marche aux Puces we went. The Puces is the mecca
of flea markets in France. Armed with our vision for the shop, we spent two
weeks curating our inventory. We did not do this alone… No, no, no. We had
little Gracie to help. Still in elementary school, Gracie followed us to every
booth, every stall and documented every item that we bought, its provenance,
and the price. She did all of this in skinny jeans and Ugg boots. My mother,
never without a chocolate croissant in hand, and I swept through the flea
market with precision and a definitive mission. By the end of the two weeks we
had acquired 19th-century leather Italian dining chairs, Moroccan
side chairs, monastery chandeliers, plaster friezes, plaster busts, 19th-century
green faience, altar sticks, candlesticks, gilt 19th-century
mirrors, statues, Napoleon III chaise longes, rock crystal chandeliers, paintings,
desks, chest of drawers, settees, banquettes, and every little accessory that
we could get our overly excited paws on.
After Paris, we proceeded to politely pillage our way
through the flea markets of L'isle-sur-la-Sorgue, France, asking my father for an
increase in our budget as we had already blown our allotted wad in Paris. My
philandering father agreed, not surprisingly. What we discovered about the flea
markets in this little town was that it was better than Paris! It was as if we
had cut out the middleman. The items were more unique and the prices were even
better. Gracie continued her services not begrudgingly because she knew there
was a prize at the end.… A new dress from Bonpoint. My child can be bought.
During some of our more lengthy negotiations with some of the vendors, Gracie
would use this opportunity to do her homework and I could not have been more
proud of her. Gracie, to this day, still reminds me of how I “forced her to
work full-time and continue her schoolwork at the tender age of 12.” My retort?
“It’s called experience, look it up.”
This is me trolling through the Marche aux Puces. Jesus Christ, I look fat!
After everything was bought, paid for and organized on the
shipping container, all we could do was… Wait. The shipping estimated time was
two months. This was fine with us because we had one slight problem. We had no
shop yet. After months of searching for a suitable shop, we were continually
left with disappointment. Nothing spoke to us. It was either the wrong
building, too big, too small or too ugly. Until one day. One day the antique
gods smiled upon us and we were notified that our favorite little building in
Santa Barbara/Montecito was up for rent. We jumped on it immediately. It was
ridiculously expensive and on top of that needed some remodeling. Who cares? I
guess that’s the price my father had to pay to have a dual life. My mother and
I set to work the very first day making the shop our own. The first floor we
decided would be our Parisian salon with black lacquered walls, a fireplace,
black and white hardwood floors, bookcases trimmed with gold leaf, gilt mirrors,
paintings and all of our trés chic Parisian findings. My mother and I know how
to roll up our sleeves and get dirty. The entire neighborhood hated us from day
one because the overwhelming scent of lacquer wafting from our shop for an
entire week is not exactly pleasant especially with a bustling restaurant next
door. Then came the paint fumes from the hand-painted black and white floors. I
could remember being down on my hands and knees with a teeny tiny paintbrush
touching up the floors on the eve of our opening party nearly fainting from the
fumes. The second floor was dedicated to our Italian finds. We hired our
brilliant painter, Enrique, to paint the walls an ocre teint to complement our
Italian leather chairs, colorful paisley fabrics, Anichini hand towels with 12
inch fringe, and antique Tuscan furniture. We decided that the awnings for the
exterior windows should mimic those of our beloved Palais-Royale in Paris.
Mission accomplished. After a month of interior work, the shop was ready.
Perfect timing because we received a notification that our container would be
in my mother’s driveway the following week with an allotted time of two hours
to empty the entire container!
As promised, before dawn on a foggy Saturday morning in
Santa Barbara, our container arrived. Unbeknownst to me, containers do not
arrive with 12 men with white glove service. Quite the opposite. We were on our
own to unload, unpack, cross reference the purchases, and organize everything
by ourselves! Not five minutes later did my mother give the gardeners new job
descriptions. They were now antique movers. After a lot of screaming, yelling,
threatening, and bossy behavior, the container was unloaded and was now in the
middle of the driveway. Gracie, in her pajamas, continued her work and expertly
checked in every piece of furniture. To our amazement, nothing was lost and
nothing was broken. Shipping miracle.
When it comes to decorating, my mother is like an idiot
savant. When she is in this mode, the best thing to do is just leave her alone.
She had a vision for the shop and I knew that it would be brilliant when she
had finished. She single-handedly with one worker, moved furniture, laid rugs,
hung mirrors, chandeliers, paintings and drapes, designed vignettes, and
overnight… Voilà! Circa was born.
Our next project was to design our ad for Santa Barbara
Magazine. This ad needed to set the tone for our shop. After weeks of failure,
I told my mother I needed to be alone to figure this out. As usual, a stroke of
genius came to me. Keep it simple, stupid. Keep it simple, stupid. Yes! This is
what I needed to do so I decided to use a completely unplanned, esoteric,
organic photo of Gracie that I had taken on a whim in the Palais-Royale in
Paris. If I do say so myself, I thought it was rather brilliant. It looked
French, exciting and fun. Doors would open October 1, 2008.
Our ads and article for my favorite Santa Barbara Magazine.
My mother and I. Look! I can walk!
Isn't my mother pretty?
The amazing flowers were half the party budget.
I can spot lots of friends, a couple of douche bags and a couple of famous musicians, can you?
My handsome husband, David.
Gracie ( with braces in her awkward phase ) and I. Don't tell Gracie that I put this picture up. I think she looks adorable.
My friend, Jean... one of the chicest women in Santa Barbara.
Yolanda Foster, David Foster and I.
I painted these floors.
Our white peacock, Ursula.
C'est moi.
After working into the wee hours of the night, cleaning up
after the party and getting ready for our grand opening the very next morning,
I realized that I had fulfilled a dream. A dream to have my own shop, with my
own merchandise, with my own aesthetic and on my own terms. I felt lucky,
privileged, grateful and excited for the future. Circa was a dream realized.
Sales were stellar and I could hardly keep up with inventory as it was flying
out of the doors. I sold my little heart out. I think my success lied in the
fact that I loved each and every object at our shop and conveyed that love to
the customers. My enthusiasm paid off. Circa was extremely successful. However,
over the next two years the economy crashed and the highfalutin customers were
no longer. Everyone was on a budget. Gross. There was no way I was going to
just give away our merchandise so we decided to close the shop and take
everything home. This decision was compounded by the fact my father was
involved in some shady business dealings and the shop was threatened with
lawsuits. Thanks, Dad. Circa was closed in 2009 but not without great memories
and a lifetime of experience.
So that is the history of Circa. Tomorrow, in Part 2, let’s
take a stroll down Circa memory lane and take a look at the actual merchandise
in the shop! So fun, so fun!
Photos by Wendy Jenson and Santa Barbara Magazine and me.
What an amazing story Ellie! And yes, your mom is stunningly gorgeous! No you did not look fat😀❤️❤️
ReplyDeleteYes your mother is gorgeous, your photo is perfect and I adored those plates. Did you live in the house that the painter lived in on Summerland?
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, fantastic, yes, Gracie looks & is adorable, (I wore braces too and a stupid black rubber night guard, hated it = non complying patient), your Bunny of coarse: dapper, YES your mother and YOU are gorgeous, pretty, no Gorgeous....I am speechless how beautiful Circa was....so exciting to me for you. I have concrete floors and constantly thinking of painting them....how precise your lines, WOW...not sure I have the patience, but with my budget, (gross) I likely will be the laborer....what a result indeed! I love your shop, perfect building as you shared! I would kill to party with you, Happy Birthday to you, I don't know the exact date, Happy Birthday fancy-schmancy Beautiful Girl! XOXO
ReplyDeleteopps, forgot, PERFECT design ad for Santa Barbara Magazine, who better than Gracie? NO ONE, simply perfect! :-)))
ReplyDeleteAnother great post, Ellie. What a fabulous shop and opening party. I love the pic of you and Gracie. I am waiting breathlessly fo r you to finish your book. What an incredible story you have to tell.
ReplyDeleteHi Ellie you were so fortunate to have been able to fulfill your dream, what a beautiful space, I love the black and white floors and yes your mom is gorgeous but so are you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this piece of your life with us before writing your book and yes happy birthday but I want the exact date
XOXOXOXO
Lourdes
I'm just bolled-over by your talent, zest for life, your accomplishments, your friends and now your bravely, never ending goals you are yet to accomplish. I bow and take my hat off to you.
ReplyDeleteYOUR shop is where I always find a gem now!It is a clothing store/gift shop, I think............
ReplyDeleteLast summer I bought a pair of MULES in SUEDE encrusted with jewels.I paid WAY TOO MUCH.But heck my birthday was fast approaching and it's obvious to me now something was drawing me into this shop which lacks your beautiful paint now!I will refer to them as my
ELEANOR SLIPPERS from here on out!
I remember ALL the ADS except the opening one with GRACIE!!As your opening date is my SON NICHOLAS'S birthday!October FIRST.He would have been 19 that day.This year he turns 26!!
As for the PARISIAN market..........I swear you are walking right past the TAXIDERMY stand I saw this past October where the lady had another URSULA waiting from a new HOME!!!
GRACIE, is ADORABLE..............what an education you and GRANDMAMA have given HER!You look like YOUR MOTHER...............I know you have heard that BEFORE!
As for that FATHER of YOUR's........................HIS LOSS.SOMETIMES MEN just don't get what they HAVE.I had an idiot FATHER too..................lets add that to the list of similarities SHALL WE!!
Your merchandise was GLORIOUS...........those chairs the books the urns.........EVERYTHING I SEE HERE SPEAKS TO ME!It's probably a GOOD thing I did not walk into that shop of yours as I would have been BESIDE MYSELF!
I canNOT wait for your BOOK....................
XOXOXO
YOUR CONTESSA
Hi Ellie,
ReplyDeleteYour blog post from early February ("The Wow Factor" about foyers and entryways) still resonates. I was compelled to move things around immediately after reading that. Form and color and light -- decorating is a playground for adults. Not that clothes and food don't also inspire. Rooms are where we live. The energy of the decor, I'm talking about feng shui here, affects our mood, our appreciation of life, our interpretation of reality. It brings in the energy and history of other people's lives, or not, if we so choose. Budget or no budget, I'm always moving the furniture around. I'm voting to see more inspiring takes on rooms through your eyes. Maybe stuff about the geometry of empty space and how we feel when we move through it, too.
You are a golden ray of sunshine.
xo,
Elizabeth Word
Gorgeous, Gorgeous, Gorgeous --- You, Gracie, your Mom, the shop --- I want it all --Les mirroirs, la chaise longue, etc. What talent you have, thank you so much for sharing it all -- you are a treasure.
ReplyDeleteLove and Hugs,
Sabrina in Port Townsend
How much I enjoyed reading this story about your exciting achievement. I could never bring myself to use the lucky like some of the other comments. That is not luck, it's long hours of hard work and determination to make your dream come true, only to be squashed by the downfall of others. Unfortunately something we can have no control of. You are one very strong & forthright lady and I admire you.( even your strong language from time to time ) :0 :) Enjoy your weekend.
ReplyDeleteNow, see? How can I possibly respond appropriately to this as a post? It is practically a booby trap for me to gush endlessly but I won't fall into it! No! When it comes out in its book form I will be able to pore over each photo repeatedly from the comfort of my beaten up club chair as is required because...everything, everything is perfect. Voila.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, your Mother is very beautiful. Like Mother, like Daughter. And of course, that goes for Gracie as well.
Sending so much Love to you, as always...
Stunning. You do make me laugh x
ReplyDeleteLoved the article and the pictures. I opened my own shop in north suburban Chicago 18 years ago - a contemporary, functional craft gallery. Mostly crafts from New England and England. Everything I carried was functional and that made a difference; I was selling beauty that could be used. I adored my shop, mostly because it was MY creation. You can't imagine the sense of satisfaction I received from selling an item. Whether it was a $3 British greeting card or a $1000 glass bowl, each sale was a vindication of my taste.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading your book. Do you have a publication date? You've dropped fascinating tidbits about your family and friends. I'd like to read the whole story.
Thank you for sharing another interesting chapter from your life (book) - the honesty and details always draw me in. As with all your chapters, stories and posts, I especially enjoy your underlying passion and your devotion to your daughter. Hugs from the States.
ReplyDeleteSimply, fabulous!
ReplyDeleteEllie, what a gorgeous shop and yes, you and your beautiful Mother made the amazing dream come true. I only wish I has been able to visit before it closed!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
A New Gallery in Town!
Amazing endeavor!
ReplyDeleteSo happy you were able to realize your dream!
Exquisite taste, fabulous party. Gorgeous women you and your mum. You look more like twins!
Oh, Ellie, divine. Simply divine.
ReplyDeleteHi Ellie, Being an antiques dealer-------I love this shop!! It is gorgeous (as is David). Yes, 2009 hit all of us incredibly hard. I'm still kicking (by the skin of my teeth), but it has been a tough ride.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for the next installment. Love!! Mary
What a gorgeous shop! It's obvious you were meant to live in Paris! Seeing David Foster there reminds me of Skylark, his first album in Canada, which I remember and still treasure, and which, frustratingly, does not seem to be available on iTunes. It was the soundtrack to my summer one year...a looooong time ago! cheers, Hope in Calgary
ReplyDeleteWhat a dream come true! It's sad that it ended, it looked truly exceptional. Your mother is very pretty indeed, and so are you. Gracie was a little dolly. Were those Beach Boys in the back right hand corner?
ReplyDeleteThank you for such a wonderful blog. I love reading the different posts and have found your resilience and zest for life inspiring whilst not sugar coating the really shitty parts! I thought this post was great and would have loved to have seen the shop and be tempted to buy. Your Mum looks like a real stylish and talented lady. Loved the ad with Gracie it really set the scene. Thanks for the gift of sharing.
ReplyDeleteI honestly thought I was going to faint the first time I came into your shop!
ReplyDeleteI adored it; and adored everything in it!
I think; ("of all the things I have lost I miss my mind the most!" My friend dody Says!!!!)
what I DO KNOW is that I came to your parents' house on Eucalyptus Hill and bought my plates, my chaises, and a bunch of stuff that was fabulous from your store!
People.....it is true! There was not one item in that store that was not fabulous.......not one that was not completely unusual.....and not one that one could find anywhere in this continent!
Ellie is correct! I was going "great guns" as a decorator......and then.....many of my "tycoon clients" ceased to be "tycoons"!!! (Thank the Lord; I still had a few who remained); but a store is so different from a "decorator"!!!
A store has to have "stock" and inventory"; so if you sell everything in there....back to Paris we go...it just takes time!
In Santa Barbara we are still mourning the loss of Ellie and her mother's store! Nothing has (or will ever) take it's place!
(I am so sorry to hear that about your Dad) I met him......he seemed ashamed of something...when I met him at their house! I had some bad vibes; I liked you so much I dismissed them!!! There you go! Positive wins over negative every single time!!!!
You actually delivered the chaises ; I think with your new French husband....could that be? They had arms that could hold drinks! Green!! Wicker!!!
all the rest of the treasures I bought I carried out to my car....from the house on Eucalyptus Hill!
Remember???????
I adored you at the time.....I adore you still! And you said...."I wish I had met you before I decided to move to Paris....you are so nice!"
I will never forget that.....it was such a compliment....and it made me sad that others had not been so nice.....(I always find that really sad and upsetting!!!) I hear it all the time!
Oh your store looks like it was such a treasure! i love the black lacquer and the staircase! I'm sorry the store had to close but so glad you were able to realize a dream. I love the name. At least some true beauty came from your dad's wrongdoing. I'm sure it's the prettiest use of hush money ever!
ReplyDeleteCirca was beautiful! I only wish I had seen it in person! Your decision to stock only the lovelies you would have in your own home, obviously, was your key to success. When one has the instinct and taste that you and your mother have, that decision was your only choice, and a wise one.
ReplyDeleteI always look forward to your posts, despite the subject.
xoxo
Joanne
This was wonderful- and now I can't wait till the book comes out! Gorgeous things in your shop, but my favorite photo is the one of you and Gracie. You both look beautiful and Gracie is incandescent. She looks proud of you!
ReplyDeleteLove this story! And yes, your mother, you, and Gracie are beautiful! Your husband is not so bad either (lol). I can hardly wait for Part 2.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! Mine is on the 26 so you are an aries? Wow, now I know why I love to follow you! Hope you had a great day.
ReplyDeleteGirl from Québec city
xoxo
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't want this post to slip by without saying how beautiful the photos are. What a great party...douche bags and all (is one wearing red?) As far as musicians (D.Foster aside), is that Mike Love in the back? In any case, your energy and enthusiasm is palpable.
ReplyDeleteI looked up something about Aries "As an Aries born on March 23rd, you have a truly passionate and enthusiastic personality. Your friends and family would be the first to attest to your passion. If something strikes your interest or is a challenge you feel to be worthwhile, there is nothing that can stand in the way of what you wish to accomplish. The energy that you display in your personal matters is appealing to those around, which explains why you have so many followers. Whether or not your realize it, you are a natural leader." I couldn't have said it better myself. p.s. I hope your deliriously hungover from yesterday's birthday excitement. XO
Missing the fabulous Ellie today on her Birthday! What a special lady-missed so very much!
ReplyDelete